CONNOR SCUTT admitted his season was saved by a crucial Grand Slam of Darts victory on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old survived a scare to beat Karel Sedlacek 5-3 in a thriller to reach the last-16 of the tournament.
It also meant that he qualified for the World Darts Championship next month.
Reflecting on the win, Scutt explained: “Karel is a very, very good player.
“The last time we played, we both averaged in the high 90s, but he beat me convincingly because of his finishing.
“This time, it felt like I got away with one again, just like against Daryl Gurney earlier in the week.”
In the decisive leg, the sniper thought he had missed his chance to win after going bust with 57 left.
However, he pulled it back to get the victory.
Scutt continued: “My manager and my wife in the crowd were shouting ‘tops, tops, tops,’ but I stubbornly went for 19. I hit 57 — brilliant, of course.
“I really thought I wasn’t going to get another chance, but luckily I had one more dart to set it right.”
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When he finally did hit the final double, Scutt unleashed an uncharacteristic burst of emotion.
“That’s not normally me,” he added. “But this match meant so much to me. I’m not in Minehead for the Players Championship Finals, so this tournament is hugely important. This saves my season.
“I’ve missed a few decent chances this season. Early on, I had a lot of tough draws.
“I lost some games I should have won, and the pressure just built up. But this result does wonders. My PDC Tour Card is safe for now.
“I missed one of those two (World Championship and the Players Championship Finals) But that’s my own fault.
“Now that I’ve qualified for Ally Pally, it feels like I’ve saved my season.”
